Cable reel



F. C. COSE@ CABLE REEL Filed. Jan. 5, 1927 Feb. 2, 1932.

Y A l .I

Patented Feb. 2, 1932 .UNITED STATES PATENTl OFFICE FREDERICK C. COSEO, OF COLUMBUS,v OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 THE JEFFREY MANUFACTUR- ING COMPANY, 0F COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F OHIO 't CABLE REEL Application led January 5, 1927. Serial No. 159,164.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in cable reels of the type adapted to use uponelectric locomotives to automatically pay out and take up the flexible conductor cable by which the actuating electric current is transmitted from a stationary supply conductor to the locomotive as it moves fromf and toward said supply conductor.

In coal mines the material which is to be removed from the mine is commonly loaded into'relatively small cars adapted to travel along the minev track, and to be propelled therealong by electric locomotives which derive their actuating current from trolley wires suspendedfrom the roof of the mine entries in convenient position parallel to the `mine tracks. The major mining operations are commonly conducted in rooms opening off of these entries, and, because of the temporary and changing character of the work vin the mine rooms, it has been found undesirable to extend branches from the trolley wires into the rooms. In order that the locomotive may proceed into the mine rooms t0 kplace `a supply of empty cars for loading, or to remove loaded cars from the room, flexible conductor cables are provided having hooks adapted to engage the trolley wires in thel entry. These ileXible conductor cables are arranged to be wound upon automatically acting reels mounted upon the locomotive, adapted to pay out the flexible cable as the locomotive advances into the room, and to rewind said cable as said locomotive moves toward the connection with the trolley wire in the entry. The restricted space in which such locomotives must operate necessitates extreme compactness of design, and, as heretofore constructed, difficulty has been eX- perifenced in properly lubricating the `iournal bearings included in the actuating mechanisms of the cable reel.

It is the especial object of this invention toy provide, in a cable reel, of the class described, improved means for lubricating the several journal bearings included in its operating mechanism.

lThe means whereby I attain this object are n fullyset forth in the following specifications,

and illustrated in the accompanying drawi ings of which Fig. l is a side elevation of an electric locomotive equipped with the devices of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of my improved cable reel, taken along the central vertical plane.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentaryview similar to Fig. 2, on an enlarged scale.

Like numerals refer to similar parts in the several figures.

In Fig. l of the drawings I have shown an electric locomotive having a main frame l mounted upon the wheels 2 which are adapted to rest' upon and travel 'along the rails 3 of a mine track. Mounted within the frame l are the electric motors 4 which are connected with the wheels 2 by suitable gearing to propel the lccon'iotive. rllhe motors 4 derive their actuating current while traveling along the main entries from the trolley wire 5 through a suitable trolley pole of the type commonly used on electric l0c0- motives, street cars. and the like, but since these devices are well understood in the art, and as they form no part in the present invention, their illustration and description is not thought to be required at this time. In order that the locomotive'here illustrated may be used to move mine cars upon the temporary track extensions in the mine entries beyond the end of the trolley wire 5, and upon the spur track which extends into the mine rooms and which are not customarily provided with trolley wires, it is the custom to equip such a locomotive with a flexible conductor cable 6 having at one end a hook 7 adapted to engage the trolley wire, and to provide upon the locomotive a cable reel 8 adapted to automatically wind the cable when the locomotive moves towards the point of connection with the trolley wire 5. and to pay out under suitable tension said cable as the locomotive moves away from said connection. At its inner end the cable 6 is electrically connected with a collector ring 9 suitably supported by and insulated from the metallic parts of the cable reel 8. This collector ring 9 is engaged by a contact the locomotive.' Within the motor. frame 14 are formed journal bearings 16 and 1T for the'support of the vertically disposed armature shaft 18. Formed on the motor frame 14 is a circular bearing 19 wherein travels the anti-friction balls 2O upon which is supported the cable reel 8. A central pivotal bearing 21 formed on the motor frame 14 concentric with the race 19, engages the cable reel to prevent its lateral displacement.

Secured to the cable reel 8, concentric with the pivot bearing 21, is an annular spur gear 22 which is engaged by a spur pinion 23, journaled vupon a stud shaft 24, i'ixed to the motor frame. To the pinion 23 is fixed a spur gear 25 which engages a spur pinion 26 fixed-to the armature shaft 1S of the motor. l/Vhen now the field coils 27 and armature coils 28 are energized, the armature will exert atorsional effort which is transmitted through the pinion 26, gear 25, pinion 23, ring gear 22, to the cable reel 8, tending to rotate said reel in the cable winding direction. This winding effort serves to retard the unwinding of the cable 6 as the locomotive moves away from the point of connection with the trolley wire 5, and assures prompt rewinding of said cable when the locomotive travels towards said point of attachment.

Fixed to the stud shaft 24, and otherwise attached to the motor frame 14, is a grooved ring 29, concentric'with the pivot bearing 21, and adapted to serve as an oil container. This ring registers with an aperture 30 in the top plate 31 of the cable reel, in such manner that oil may be introduced to the ring container 29 when the cable reel is in any position ofl its rotation about its axis. An oil hole 32 in the ring 29 and stud shaft 24 allows the oil to flow from this annular container into the bearing 33 between the pinion 23 and stud shaft 24. The oil thus flowing through the bearing 33 may find its way over the surface 34 of the motor casing into the cavity 35 which contains the bea-ring 16 of the armature shaft 18, and into the bearing 19 upon which the cable reel is supported. An upwardly turned flange 36 is provided to confine the oil flowing into the .bearing 19 and prevent its being thrown upon and fouling the other parts of the apparatus. From the armaturebearing 16 the oil finds its way through the recess 37 into a cup 33 attached to the armature shaft, and this cup 38 is provided with an inwardly projecting flange 39 whereby is prevented the throwing of oil from said cup by centrifugal force as apparatus by excessive oil is effectively prevented.

lVliat I claim is:

1. In an apparatus'of the class described, the combination with a member adapted for rotation about a vertical axis, of a vertical shaft concentricwith and supported in bearings beneath said member, a stationary annular oil container supported beneath said member and concentric therewith arranged to supply oil to said bearings, an aperture in said rotary member registering with said annular container through which oil may be supplied thereto as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an appara-tus of the class described, the combination with a member adapted for rotation about a vertical axis, of a vertical shaft concentric with and supported in bearings beneath said member, a stationary annular oil container supported beneath said member and concentrictherewith arranged to supply oil to the upper of said bearings, a cup carried by said shaft beneath said bearing adapted to intercept the flow of oil upon said shaft from said bearing, and means to conduct the oil from said cup to the lower of said bearings as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with an electric motor having a vertically disposed armature shaft. of a rotary member supported upon said motor frame for rotation about a vertical aXis concentric with said armature shaft, gearing positioned beneath and arranged to operatively connect said rotary member with said armature shaft, an annular oil container supported by said motor frame in fixed position beneath and concentric with said rotary member arranged to supply oil to the bearings of said gearing and of said armature shaft, and an aperture in said rotary member registering with said container through which oil may be applied thereto as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an apparatus of the class described` the combination with an electric motor having a vertically disposed armature shaft supported in journal bearings in the upper and lower walls of said motor frame, a winding drum adapt-ed to revolve about a vertical axis and supported by a ball bearing upon said motor frame, gearing operatively connecting said Winding drum With said armature shaft, an oil receptacle supported by said motor frame beneath said Winding drum and adapted to supply oil to the uppermost bearing of said armature shaft, a cup carried by said armature shaft adapted to intercept the flow of oil upon said shaft from said bearing, and a passage Within said shaft adapted to conduct the oil from said cup to the lovvermost bearing of said armature shaft as and for the purpose set forth. i

5. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with an electric motor having avertically disposed armature shaft supported in journal bearings in the upper and lower Walls of the motor frame, a Winding drum adapted to revolve about a vertical axis and supported by a ball bearing upon the motor frame, gearing operatively connecting the Winding drum with said armature shaft, an annular oil receptacle supported by said motor frame beneath said Winding drum in register with an aperture in the horizontal plates of said Winding drum and adapted to supply oil to the bearings of said gearing and to the uppermost bearing of .said armature shaft, a cup carried by said armature shaft adapted to intercept the flow of oil upon said shaft from said uppermost bearing, and means to conduct the oil from said cup to the lowermost bearing of said armature shaft as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination With an electric motor having a vertically disposed armature shaft supported in journal bearings in the upper and lower Walls of said motor frame, a Winding drum adapted to revolve about a vertical axis and supported by a ball bearing upon the motor frame, gearing operatively connecting said Winding drum With said armature shaft, an annular oil receptacle supported by said motor frame beneath said Winding drum in register With an aperture in the horizontal plates of said drum and adapted to supply oil to the bearings of said gearing and to the upper bearing of said armature shaft. a

rcup carried by said armature shaft adapted to intercept the iiow of oil upon said shaft from said uppermost bearing, and a passage Within said shaft adapted to conduct the oil from said cup to the lowermost bearing of said armature shaft as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a device of the class described. a drum rotatable on a vertical axis, an annular supporting bearing for said drum, a drive `ear for said drum disposed Within and above said supporting bearing, a drive gear bearing disposed above the bottom plane of said supporting bearing, and means to direct to said supporting bearing excess lubricant from the drive gear bearing. l

8. In a device of the class described, a rotatlable drum,-an annular supporting bearing for said drum, a drive gear for the drum disposed Within the periphery and behind a closed face of the latter, a drive gear bearing, said face having an aperture through which lubricant may be supplied to the bearing of said drive gear, and means to direct to said supporting bearing excess lubricant from the drive gear bearing.

9. In a device of the class described, a rotatable drum, an annular supporting bearing for said drum, a drive gear for said drum disposed Within the periphery and behind a closed face of the latter, a drive gear bearing, said closed face having an aperture, a channel in constant communication between said aperture and the bearing of said drive gear, and means to direct to said supporting bearing excess lubricant supplied to the drive gear bearing by said aperture and channel.

10. In a. device of the class described, a drum rotatable about a vertical axis, an annular supporting bearing for said drum concentric With said axis, a drive gear for said drum disposed Within the confines of said supporting bearing, a drive gear bearing, and means to direct to said supporting bearing excess lubricant from the drive gear bearing.

11. In a device of the class described, a drum rotatable about a vertical axis, a drive gear for said drum, a vertical drive shaft eccentric to the axis of said drive gear, head and foot bearings for said drive shaft, means to direct to said head bearing excess lubricant from the drive gear bearing, and means to direct to said foot bearing excess lubricant from the head bearing.

12. In a device of the class described, a drum rotatable about a vertical axis, a drive gear for said drum, a vertical drive shaft eccentric to the axis of said drive gear, head and foot bearings for said drive shaft, means to direct to said head bearing excess lubricant from the drive gear bearing, a cup on said drive shaft beneath the head bearing for recovering lubricant escaping therefrom, and communicating means between said cup and said foot bearing.

13. In a device of the class described, a drum rotatable about a vertical axis, an annular supporting bearing for said drum concentric With said axis, a drive gear for said drum disposed Within the confines of said supporting bearing, a drive fear bearing. a vertical drive shaft eccentric to said drive gear. and means to direct to said supporting bearing and to said drive shaft excess lubricant from tie drive gear bearing.

14. In a device of the class described, a

rotatable drum, a drive gear bearing eccentric bearing excess lubricant supplied to the drive gear bearing by said aperture and said channel.

l5. In a device of the class described, a drum rotatable about a vertical axis, a central bearing beneath a web of the drum about which the drum is rotatable, a drive gear for the drum eocentrically mounted relative to the drum below the drum web, and an annular oil receptacle surrounding said bearing, said receptacle having a portion overlying the bearing portion of said gear and in communication therewith, said receptacle being accessible through an opening in the drum Web for filling.

16. In a device of the class described, a drum rotatable about a vertical axis, a central bearing beneath a Web of the drum about which the drum is rotatable, a drive gear for the drum eccentrically, mounted relative to the drum below the drum Web, an annular oil receptacle surrounding said bearing, said receptacle having` a portion overlying the bearing portion of said gear and in communication therewith, said receptacle being accessible through an opening in the drum Web for filling, and a thrust bearing for said drum disposed to receive excess lubricant from said bearing portion.

17. In a device of the class described, a drum rotatable about a vertical axis, a central bearing beneath a Web of the drum about which the drum is rotatable, an oil receptacle surrounding said bearing and accessible through an opening in the drum Web, and a thrust bearing for the drum disposed to receive lubricant from said receptacle.

18. InV a device of the class described, a drum rotatable about a vertical axis, a central bearing beneath a` web of the drum about which the drum is rotatable, a'stationary oil receptacle surrounding said bearing and accessible through an openin g in the drum web, and a thrust bearing for the drum disposed to receive lubricant'from said receptacle.

19. In a device of the class described, a drum rotatable about a vertical axis, a central bearing beneath a Web of the drum about which the drum is rotatable, a stationary oil receptacle surrounding said bearing and accessible through an opening in the drum Web, an armature shaft supported in bearings coaxially with said drum, and means for guidingV lubricant from said receptacle to said shaft bearings.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. y

FREDERICK C. COSEO. 

